A climate emergency
Our call for #COP26COMMITTOMORE
The global net zero and temperature rise targets are the big ones. If we let those slide we are resigning ourselves to severe climate disaster. But the rest of the main goals are also inadequate, or at least so weakly worded that they carry little weight.
COP26 original statement:
We need to work together to enable and encourage countries affected by climate change to:
- protect and restore ecosystems
- build defences, warning systems and resilient infrastructure and agriculture to avoid loss of homes, livelihoods and even lives.
Commit to more:
We need to commit the funds to enable and encourage countries affected by climate change to:
- protect and restore ecosystems
- build defences, warning systems and resilient infrastructure and agriculture to avoid loss of homes, livelihoods and even lives.
COP26 original statement:
Developed countries must make good on their promise to mobilise at least $100bn in climate finance per year by 2020. International financial institutions must play their part and we need work towards unleashing the trillions in private and public sector finance required to secure global net zero.
Commit to more:
Developed countries must immediately deliver the $100bn per year promised in 2009 and commit to mobilising $150bn per year by 2022. Governments must legislate so international financial institutions play their part.
COP26 original statement:
We can only rise to the challenges of the climate crisis by working together. COP26 must finalise the Paris Rulebook (the detailed rules that make the Paris Agreement operational). It must accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis through collaboration between governments, businesses and civil society.
Commit to more:
Work together to take immediate action
In essence, what we’re calling for is less prevarication, more action. Less concerned statement making and more commitment. We feel that the goals as currently stated lack any urgency or sense of genuine intent. We need to see #COP26COMMITTOMORE.
Responsible travel
We recognise that as a company promoting and selling travel we are part of the problem, but we would like to play a key part in finding credible solutions to the emissions caused by travel.
Most of the holidays we promote through Sawday’s and Canopy & Stars are in the UK with the remainder in Europe. There are solutions on the way, including electric passenger aircraft and aircraft powered by household and commercial waste, with a 70% lower carbon footprint, and existing solutions improving every day, electric cars, electric trains and LNG ferries which all help to reduce the impact of tourism. There are also steps we can all take now, which we will be actively encouraging, like taking fewer longer holidays, taking short breaks closer to home, avoiding areas suffering from ‘overtourism’, renting an electric vehicle or taking public transport, a ferry or train, in place of a car or flight.
There is a lot to address, and although we have made a start, we plan to do more in the months and years ahead, we are currently recruiting a Sustainability & Impact Manager to drive us forward and are looking at how we can reduce the carbon impact of both our business and our holidays, through our owners and guests, starting with showing how much carbon they produce.
